When they reached the college, all too soon for Dolly, she had hung back irresolutely, while the rest rushed up and embraced the teachers who stood in the reception room, ready to receive the newcomers.
She was feeling quite left out in the cold, and wishing heartily that she was back in the home-nest. Only for a moment, though. Her hand was cordially taken, and she turned to find herself addressed by a sweet-faced little woman, much shorter than Dolly herself, with gray hair and kindly eyes.
“I think this must be Miss Alden. Am I right?”
“Quite right, but I do not see how you knew.”
“Your father telegraphed that you would come by this train, and you see, my dear, that you are the only Freshman in the crowd, so that it did not require much shrewdness on my part to pick you out. Now let me introduce you to some of the girls. You will soon feel acquainted here, I know. Margery,” and as a tall, rather handsome girl turned around, she added; “I want you to meet Miss Alden, one of our new girls. Miss Ainsworth–and here are Miss Rummel, Miss Paterson and Miss Graves. Margery, will you show Miss Alden to 77? Your room-mate will not be here for several days yet. She is detained by her sister’s marriage, which will occur this week. I hope you will like her; we tried to do our best in the arrangement of room-mates; next year, you can select your own. Excuse me now.” And she turned to another newcomer, and Dolly followed Miss Ainsworth down the long corridor.
“You will like Westover, I’m sure,” Miss Ainsworth remarked sedately; she evidently thought it her duty to make small talk, and act as Dolly’s temporary guardian. “Of course, you’ll feel lonesome at first until you get fitted in; all the girls do, but that soon wears off.”
“Are you a Senior?” queried Dolly innocently. Miss Ainsworth seemed so very old and so very superior, that Dolly could only think of her as a Senior.
Her companion’s cheeks flushed perceptibly as she answered stiffly; “No, I am not a Senior yet. Here is your room, Miss Alden. The bedroom on the right will be yours, I suppose, as I see that they have put your trunk there. The one on the left will be your room-mate’s, and you will use this sitting-room in common.”
After a few more words Dolly’s companion passed on, and the unfortunate Freshman wandered dolefully into her bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed where we first saw her.
As a rule, Dolly and tears were strangers, but just now poor Dolly felt unutterably miserable. Not only was she homesick, but she felt outside all the college fun and good camaraderie of the place.